Feeling a little like your joints are stiff, and needing some oil like the Tin Man? Or afraid to use that shoulder, hip or knee due to pain? Fortunately there is a wonderful technique called Frederick Stretch Therapy (FST) to unwind tension in the deepest layers of tissues. FST opens up the joint space and relaxes the hold the nervous system has on the tissue. FST is a unique table based assisted stretching technique that targets fascia and joints. I have a previous blog on what fascia is if you want to read that here.
The journey to FST has been in the making for over 40 years, and has been scientifically researched and proven to be effective. This was not developed in a corporate office like many of the stretching franchises that have emerged in the last decade. Stretching is many times skipped, with excuses as I don’t have time, or many do not see the benefit. When people stretch at all, it is usually done ineffectively, performing the same old-school stretching exercises that several generations of athletes and coaches have used. Ever thought-“I have been stretching and stretching and nothing is happening?!” Old school ineffective stretching is why nothing is happening.
Is a stretching program just as important as a strength and conditioning program for optimal performance? YES.
What are the benefits of FST?
Decreased pain
Increased mobility
Reduced vulnerability to injury
Improved posture, circulation, and joint health
Improved physiology such as sleep, digestion, and energy
Corrected structural imbalances (ex. leg length discrepancies).
Increased mobility for optimal golf swing performance.
Down regulated nervous system for post activity restoration, regeneration, and lymph flush
Up regulated nervous system for pre activity dynamic warm-up, corrective work and/or mental – emotional athletic preparation.
Many professional sports teams have an FST practitioner on staff to help keep the players mobile, less likely to suffer injury and correct imbalances for their optimal performance.
Some people can be sore after the first one or two stretches, since your body has not been stretched in this manner before. Give it a shot!